MASSACHUSETTS SWEEPS WEEKEND SERIES WITH 5-2 WIN OVER MICHIGAN STATE
Junior Troy Power, freshman Ray Pigozzi and freshman Steven Iacobellis each tally three-point games for Minutemen

Junior Troy Power has goal and two assists for Minutemen

AMHERST, Mass. - The UMass hockey team used four power-play goals to come from behind to defeat Michigan State, 5-2, in Saturday night at the Mullins Center. After completing the weekend sweep of the Spartans, the Minutemen are 2-2-0 on the season, while Michigan State falls to 0-2-0.

UMass' second line of freshman Ray Pigozzi, redshirt-junior Troy Power and freshman Steven Iacobellis combined for nine of the Minutemen's 13 points on the night. Iacobellis led the way, scoring two of the squad's five goals, including his first career game winner, and adding an assist for a three-point effort. Power contributed his second tally of the season and a pair of helpers, while Pigozzi had three assists for the first three points of his collegiate career.

Seniors Joel Hanley and Adam Phillips each chipped in with their first tallies of the season, UMass' seventh and eighth power-play goals of the year. Tonight's contest marked the first time since Oct. 8, 2009 vs. RPI that a Minuteman squad had scored four or more power-play goals in a game.

Michigan State took a 1-0 lead just 4:58 into the contest as Rhett Holland sent an outlet pass to Joe Cox who found Michael Ferrantino for a snap shot from the top of the circle.

UMass answered two minutes, one second, later, though, with its fifth power-play goal of the season. Pigozzi sent a pass to Power in front from the corner and, while Power's initial shot was stopped, Iacobellis was there to bury the rebound 6:59 into the period.

However, the Spartans retook the lead before the intermission, converting a brief 5-on-3 opportunity with a shot from the left point by Greg Wolfe. Travis Walsh and Lee Reimer both earned assists on the play.

Then in the second period, the Minutemen erupted for four goals, including three with the man advantage. Hanley came through with the equalizer on a shot from the point on the power play at the 7:28 mark, set up by sophomore Ben Gallacher and senior Conor Sheary.

Iacobellis gave UMass the advantage for good with his second of the night 10:28 into the stanza from Pigozzi and Power.

Phillips' blast from the point on the power play off a feed from Pigozzi at 13:34 expanded the lead to 4-2.

Power then capped off the night with a power-play tally of his own late in the period, scoring from Iacobellis' pass 18:57 into the stanza.

Junior netminder Steve Mastalerz logged 30+ saves and picked up a win for the second straight night, making 31 stops between the pipes for the Minutemen. Will Yanakeff had 28 saves for the Spartans.

Michigan State and UMass finished even in shots, 33-33, while the Minutemen won 36 of 63 faceoffs. UMass went 4-for-8 on the power-play and limited the Spartans to a 1-for-6 outing with the man advantage.

The Minutemen will return to action on Friday, Oct. 25, to begin a weekend at Maine. The contest, which will be broadcast nationally on NBC Sports, will start at 8 p.m.